Strengths: The active ingredient in most retinoids is tretinoin, which has mounds of research establishing its multiple anti-aging benefits for skin (particularly sun-damaged skin). Tazorac contains the active ingredient tazarotene, a retinoid that works similarly to tretinoin.

Weaknesses: Some people cannot tolerate tretinoin therapy; all of these products require a prescription; textures of each are not nearly as elegant as using a well-formulated moisturizer.

Rather than review these products and assign the usual face ratings, we present a list of the various options, along with prices based on figures from www.drugstore.com. Note that your actual price for these prescription products will vary based on your health insurance coverage, if any, and whether or not your physician believes that a generic form of tretinoin is an equally effective (and hence less costly) option.